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Launch of the revision of the Healthy Enterprise standard: towards a Canadian standard

MONTRÉAL, Feb. 8, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - After two intensive years of planning and development, Groupe entreprises en santé is very pleased to announce the upcoming launch of the revision of the Healthy Enterprise standard (BNQ 9700-800), the current version of which was developed by the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) in 2008. This revision will lead to the creation of a National Standard of Canada, from which all organizations across the country can benefit.

Groupe entreprises en santé recently completed its first round of financing, which guarantees that revision of the standard will begin in spring 2017. In this sense, the Group wishes to thank its invaluable financial partners: Desjardins Insurance and Lundbeck as Major Partners, Great-West and its partner from the very beginning, the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux.

The BNQ will conduct the revision process extremely rigorously and will take this opportunity to obtain recognition of the Healthy Enterprise standard by the Standards Council of Canada as a National Standard of Canada, thus broadening its name recognition with Canadian employers. We should mention that the launch of the National Standard of Canada is scheduled for 2019.

According to the Group and its partners, a National Standard will give all Québec and Canadian organizations the benefit of the competitive advantage represented by "Healthy Enterprise" certification for the retention and attraction of skilled labour and for the improvement of workers' health and the performance of our domestic enterprises.

For Roger Bertrand, Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Groupe entreprises en santé, the development of a National Standard is part of a continuous improvement approach to contribute to the overall health of the greatest possible number of workers, here and elsewhere: "As soon as the Healthy Enterprise standard was launched as a worldwide first in 2008, we knew this was not an end in itself, but rather the beginning of a winning approach that could be exported beyond our borders. The upcoming creation of a National Standard is a major step in this direction, and we are very pleased with it."

"As a leading insurer, Desjardins Insurance is proud to be associated with the revision of the Healthy Enterprise standard, because this standard is perfectly consistent with our mission to be a leader in optimum management of health in Canada. Québec is a pioneer in overall health promotion and prevention in the work environment, and we hope that a great many Canadian organizations will implement an approach that has proven its value for employee wellness and business competitiveness," declared Nathalie Laporte, Vice-President, Development, Marketing and Strategies, at Desjardins Insurance.

"Lundbeck Canada is delighted to be associated with Groupe entreprises en santé in the revision process of the Healthy Enterprise standard, which will lead to the creation of a National Standard of Canada. This is especially important in a context in which the stigma of mental illness has existed too long and the status quo on this issue is no longer acceptable. We are therefore very proud to provide concrete support to a recognized improvement process for the psychological and general health of individuals working in Canadian companies," said François Campeau, Manager, Market Access, at Lundbeck Canada.